KERRY TRAVELS TO B’DESH, INDIA AMID CONCERNS OVER TERRORISM

GENEVA : US Secretary of State John Kerry’s stops in Bangladesh and India come amid increasing concerns about terrorism in both nations.

After talks on Syria with Russian and UN officials, Kerry planned to depart Geneva Sunday for meetings with Bangladeshi officials, opposition and civic leaders who are coping with a series of extremist attacks. The most recent killed 20 people, including 17 foreigners, at a popular restaurant last month in Dhaka, the capital. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but authorities maintain that a local banned group, Jumatul Mujahedeen Bangladesh was behind it.

Kerry, on his first visit to Bangladesh as secretary of state, plans to discuss counterterrorism cooperation, along with human rights and economic development.

In India, he is set to attend the seventh meeting of the US-India strategic dialogue.

Those discussions are taking place as tensions rise in Kashmir, scene of some of the largest protests in recent years. Since early July, at least 67 civilians have been killed and thousands injured. Two policemen have also been killed.

US officials say Kerry will continue to urge dialogue between India and Pakistan over the dispute.

Kerry, who aims to try to further boost US economic ties with India on his two-day visit, will be accompanied by US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker and senior officials from 12 U.S. government agencies and institutions.